Sports Salon: Ask Mariners’ Dipoto ‘What’s up?’

Another in a series of Sports Salons at World Trade Center Seattle features Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto. Bring your questions and opinions to the happy hour event on the waterfront Feb. 11.

Jerry Dipoto will take your questions at the Sports Salon at the World Trade Center Seattle. / Alan Chitlik, Sportspress Northwest

Here’s your first chance to ask Jerry Dipoto in person what the hell he’s doing. The new Mariners general manager will join me at the Sports Salon at World Trade Center Seattle at a Feb. 11 happy hour to explain his extreme makeover of the hometown team. You’re invited.

Since his September hire, Dipoto has moved 42 players on or off the roster, including five players who were acquired and dispatched before playing an inning for the Mariners.

The Mariners have two new starting pitchers, a remade bullpen and only four holdover starting position players.

A former MLB relief pitcher for eight seasons, Dipoto was for four years the general manager of the Anaheim Angels, who had 98 wins in 2014. He has spent 15 years in the player-personnel departments of five MLB organizations, and was nearly hired as the Mariners’ GM in 2009.

Come hear Dipoto’s thought process behind these unprecedented changes and more about his new manager, Scott Servais.

The event is at the World Trade Center’s spectacular fourth-floor restaurant on the downtown waterfront opposite Anthony’s Pier 66.

Tickets are $20 for WTC members, $30 for non-members and includes appetizers. Drinks are at happy-hour prices. Bring your questions for Dipoto and see if you can coax him into committing that the Mariners will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

YourThoughts

I live out of state, but I’d ask him what his plan is if the Mariners get off to a slow start….with the tip that M’s fans are tired of hearing “it’s early” every year haha.

art thiel

Fair question. Thanks,

1coolguy

Is Lincoln gone yet? No? Then I’ll have to wait out a year to see whether he can actually STAY AWAY or continues to F up the organization, as he has since letting Gillick go and not finding the right guy after Piniella. As the lead investor rep and the real man at the helm, the Mariner’s demise is all his.

art thiel

I respect a conscientious objector, but here’s a chance to get your hard questions answered.

Williec

Is the event going to be streamed? I’m outta town and can’t be there but would listen in. Having a little hope here, HL notwithstanding.

art thiel

Plotting . . .

domdog

But I live in Montana,
You were my first introduction to good sports writing, I’d read few articles, and it made me into a continuing fan. I don’t think I would have stuck around with out the enjoyable story telling that embeds a quality sports journal. Would love to drop by but,

art thiel

Where in Montana? I was born in Thompson Falls.

dingle

“Jerry: Although your bosses have allegedly sworn off meddling in the day-to-day operations of the team, they’ve shown no ability to restrain themselves and actually do that. What will your reaction be when Howard calls you on the phone or comes to your office and starts giving baseball-related instructions, like playing a particular player, or having Felix Hernandez throw batting practice?”

art thiel

Happy to ask. You better show up to hear the answer.

dingle

I’d love to, but that’s a long flight from San Jose.

art thiel

2 hrs, 20 min, tops. You’re not doing anything else that day.

dingle

Let me check the prices on Alaska Air.

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Kirsten Kendrick's Q. & A. with Thiel can be heard every Friday during Morning Edition at 5:35am and 7:35am and again that same day on All Things Considered at 4:45pm. It also airs Saturday at 6:35am and 9:35am.